Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz vs Hohenems

Played under intense summer heat, the match was a tale of Bregenz dominance against a disciplined Hohenems defence. The Austrian 2. Liga side controlled possession and created the better chances throughout, but the visiting Regionalliga outfit held firm through the first half and deep into the second.

With the clock ticking towards full time and a goalless draw looking increasingly likely, trialist winger Thalassinho produced the decisive moment. The 20-year-old Brazilian, who was later signed to a contract through 2027 on 14 July, found space in the box and fired home to secure a 1-0 victory for the hosts.

The 90th-minute goal was the game's only moment of incision. Hohenems had successfully frustrated Bregenz for the entire match, but a momentary lapse in concentration at the back allowed Thalassinho to strike. The late goal meant Bregenz's dominance — which the club's post-match report described as "Schwarzweißer Überlegenheit" (black-and-white superiority) — finally received the reward it deserved.

Thalassinho — The Brazilian trialist made the difference with a composed finish late on. His performance evidently impressed the coaching staff, given he was announced as a permanent signing just three days later. (Player of the Match)

Hohenems defence — The visitors' backline deserves recognition for holding Bregenz at bay for 89 minutes. Despite the defeat, the organisation and discipline shown will encourage Hohenems ahead of their Regionalliga campaign.

Bregenz midfield — Controlled the tempo of the game and created multiple openings, though the final ball was often lacking until the decisive moment.

Bregenz came into this match on a run of five consecutive pre-season victories, including a 4-0 win over Dornbirn on 7 July, and had drawn only once (against Austria Lustenau) in their last six outings. The 1-0 scoreline, however, was a far tighter result than those recent performances suggested.

Sports Mole's pre-match model gave Bregenz a 48.4% win probability, with 1-0 the second-most likely winning scoreline at 6.8% — behind only 2-1 (9.3%). The 0-0 draw at half-time aligned with the data, which gave a 36.9% chance of a deadlock at the break.

In the head-to-head history between the sides (8 meetings since 2019), Hohenems had won four, Bregenz one, and three were drawn. The 30 goals shared across those fixtures averaged 3.75 per match, making this 1-0 result a notable outlier defensively.

For Schwarz-Weiß Bregenz, who retained their Admiral 2. Liga status for the 2026-27 season after a difficult campaign, the friendly win is a small but positive step in pre-season preparations. Their next test came on 15 July against fellow Vorarlberg side SC Austria Lustenau.

Hohenems, competing in the Austrian Regionalliga, will take encouragement from a disciplined defensive display against a side from the division above. The result continues their mixed pre-season form after a 7-0 loss to Austria Lustenau in February.

A classic pre-season friendly decided by a late flash of quality from a trialist who would go on to earn a contract. Bregenz will want more ruthlessness in front of goal before the competitive season begins, but the clean sheet and the ability to grind out a result are useful building blocks. Hohenems can hold their heads high after a stubborn defensive showing.